Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template

Abstract

A dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth includes digitizing the patient's tooth; adding virtual objects to predetermined three-dimensional positions on the digitized tooth; and fabricating the dental template to locate the object at the predetermined 3D position on the patient's tooth. The template can be used for etching or for positioning brackets on teeth.

1. A method of fabricating a dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth, comprising:
 creating a digital model of the patient's tooth; 
 locating a dental component on the digital model of the tooth; 
 creating a digital model of a template comprising:
 creating a body of plates comprising placing a plurality of digital plates such that each digital plate abuts the digital model of the tooth or the located dental component; and modifying the placed digital plates comprising joining individual plates and/or removing one or more protrusions; and 
 subtracting the digital model of the patient's tooth from the body of plates; and 
 
 fabricating a dental template from the digital model of the template. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital model of the plate abuts the digital model of the tooth. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating a digital model of a plurality of teeth and placing a plurality of digital models of plates on a plurality of the teeth. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising joining together the plurality of digital models of plates. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising extending the joined plurality of digital models of the plates to the incisal or occlusal surfaces. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising placing a digital model of a plate positioned over the occlusal or incisal surfaces. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more plates abuts the located dental component so as to constrain degrees of freedom of a dental component on the digital model of the tooth.